From Susan O and Khem I

Former NYC and now North Carolina parent activist Khem Irby who helped expose some of the charter scams here --- having had much experience as a charter parent writes on charters in NC. Examiner.com: Charter parents believe start early, start strong

And Susan Ohanian in her regular update has so much good stuff I'm putting it all in. Make sure to check out her comments by clicking on the links.

Do NOT miss Evelyn O'Connor. It is especially ironic to hear her words as the NEA Rep Assembly is meeting.

We have two new cartoons:
Circle the Wagons
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_cartoons.php?id=791

Quiz
http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=663

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Are the new national academic standards rotten to the (Common) Core?
Maureen Downey/
Atlantic Journal-Constitution  Get Schooled Blog
2012-07-01
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=294

A Georgia superintendent takes on the Common Core

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Test That Can Determine the Course of Life in China Gets a Closer Examination
Edward Wong
New York Times
2012-07-01
http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=9832

Here's another idea for Bill Gates.

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Summer Reading List
Claire Needell Hollander  & Laura N. Arneson
New York Times
2012-06-27
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=293

Read on for a cockamamie idea, verging on child abuse.

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Turnitin Partners with Education Council to Develop Common Core Grading Rubrics
Turnitin
Sacramento Bee Press Release
2012-06-25
http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=292

See educators run to the Common Core money.

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Ghosts of PATCO and the Coming Battle for Teachers
Alan Morse

2012-06-30
http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=1028

About the coming CTU strike? Alan Morse, who lives in Maine, says we should ALL 'be ready.' Be ready to support Chicago teachers.

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To the editor
Laura N. Arneson
New York Times
2012-06-27
http://susanohanian.org/show_letter.php?id=1455

I am so glad that someone answered the outrageous opinion piece about the books necessary to gain 'world knowledge.' The author of that revealed only that she's drunk way too much Common Core Kool-Aid.

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Career test for kindergarteners in the works
Josh Lederman, Associated Press
Denver Post
2012-07-02
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1355

A new digital tool to test academic and behavioral skills will target students starting in kindergarten.

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MUST watch!!!
Evelyn O'Connor
Cooperative Catalyst
2012-06-30
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1354

Wowser. Wowser. Don't miss this.

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A Bar Exam for Teachers?
Steve Clemons
Atlantic online
2012-06-29
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1353

The kettle of fish at the  Aspen Institute sure stinks and dues-paying members of the AFT should certainly ask what Randi Weingarten is up to.

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Consultant reforming Algiers charter schools raised idea of displaying D grade on signs, memos and shirts
Mark Waller
 The Times-Picayune
2012-06-29
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1352

The consultant pushing to overhaul the Algiers Charter Schools Association raised the idea of prominently displaying the state-assigned letter grade of D on shirts worn by employees, memos and signs.

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Doubts persist on Memphis, Shelby County school merger plan
Gary Shorb & Michael Kelley, comments by Jim Horn
Memphis Commercial Appeal
2012-06-29
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1351

Jim Horn tears apart the Gates resegregation  plan for Memphis and Shelby County  Tennessee.

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Why Bother Educating the Poor?
Gerald Coles
Living in Dialogue blog
2012-06-27
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1350

Gerald Coles speaks truth to power and ticks off commentors at the Ed Week website. It is a tough message. It IS on target.

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Parents, Join the Resistance!
Nina Bishop

2012-06-26
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1349

Please join this Colorado parent in an effort to get the ACLU involved in supporting the rights of parents to opt their children out of oppressive standardized testing. All she is asking for is a letter from you.

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Eva Moskowitz’s Success Academy Schools network rolling in money but still wants 50% increase in management fees from state
Juan Gonzalez
New York Daily News
2012-06-25
http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=1348

Here we see more taxpayer support of private entrepreneurial  interests, while public schools can't even supply toilet paper.

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This abandoned Walmart has been reclaimed as a public library
Jess Zimmerman
Grist List
2012-07-02
http://susanohanian.org/show_yahoo.php?id=770

Some good news from Texas.

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Mayor Bloomberg's School Closings Blocked by Arbitrator
United Federation of Teachers & Lisa Fleisher
Press Release & Wall Street Journal
2012-06-29
http://susanohanian.org/show_yahoo.php?id=769

The Bloomberg reform plan, which is an attempt to capitalize on the Duncan plan, has been blocked by the arbitrator.

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Online Testing, and How Pearson Sent Wyoming Back to Paper
Jim Horn & Jill Barshay
Schools Matter blog & Hechinger Report
2012-06-26
http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.php?id=4247

Even worse than the technical snafus imminent in online testing are these predictions of round-the-clock testing.
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Order the CD of the resistance:
"No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
Other orders: Send $15 to
Susan Ohanian
P. O. Box 26
Charlotte, VT 05445